Closer Look at Brain Circuits Reveals Important Role of Genetics

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Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in La Jolla have revealed new clues to the wiring of the brain. A team led by associate professor Anton Maximov found that neurons in brain regions that store memory can form networks in the absence of synaptic activity. “Our results imply that assembly of neural circuits in areas required for cognition is largely controlled by intrinsic genetic programs that operate independently of the external world,” Maximov explained. A similar phenomenon was observed by the group of professor Nils Brose at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Germany.